Automatic lighting device for autos



Aug. 6, 1929. PARKER 1,723,882

AUTOMATIC LIGHTING DEVICE FOR AUTOS Filed April 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l .ileri I ar/Z97;

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aug. 6, 1929. PARKER 1,723,882

AUTOMATIC LIGHTING DEVICE FOR AUTOS Filed April 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES ALBERT PARKER, or PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

AUTOMATIC LIGHTING DEVICE FOR AUTOS.

Application filed April 21,

, A further object is the provision of a device for this purpose that includes an alarm clock which is removably fixed on the instru ment board of an automobile or like machine and wherein the alarm mechanism is utilized for actuating a switch connected to'thfe wires of the lamp circuit of the ma chine so that the said lamps will be automatically illuminated at the time set on the alarm mechanism for such illumination; 7

A still further object is the provision of a circuit maker for this purpose that includes an ordinary alarm clock mechanism, which i may be readily and easily fixed on the instru ment board of the automobile, wherein the winding and hand setting means for the clock is conveniently arranged upon the outer face of the casing therefor and also ,wherein the means for setting the time at which the circuit maker is to be actuated is also conveniently arranged upon the outer face of the clock casing.

A still further object is the provision of a circuit maker for this purpose which embodies the desirable features of simplicity in construction, cheapness in manufacture and ease and accuracy in operation, and further wherein such operation is wholly automatic.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will present themselves 5 as the nature of the invention is better un derstood, the improvement also resides in certain other novel features of construction,

combination and operative association of parts, one satisfactory embodiment of which 0 is disclosed by the accompanying drawings.

. i In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a face View of an alarm clock embodying my improvement.

Figure 2jis a rear elevation thereof. a

Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof with parts in section.

Figure 4 is a detail view looking toward the face of the clock with parts broken away and parts in section.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4. c

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a detail plan view with parts insection, to illustrate the arrangement of 1928. Serial No. 271,882.

the finger on the gear influencing spring, and the manner in which the sa1d finger overlies the spring switch for holding the same out of engagement with one of the contacts of the circuit.

Figure Sis a sectional view approximately on the line 88 of Figure 7 the finger having been moved by the spring to release the switch.

In the embodiment of the improvement disclosed by the accompanying drawings the clock casing 1 has fixed on its outer face a plate 2 which is designed to be bolted to the instrument board of an automobile after the casing has been let through an opening in such instrument board. The clock is of the usual construction and embodies an alarm mechanism. In the present instance, however, the alarm is dispensed with, but the gear 3, which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 4 is employed, the said gear being in mesh with the usual pinion 5 and being slidable upon said pinion to permit of the said gear being brought-into locking engagement with the shaft 4 for actuating the tappet means of the alarm. This construction is old and well known in the art. The gear has on its outer face the usual hub extension 6 which is notched, as at 7, and the shaft 4 carries a pin 8 to be received in the notch of the hub when the train of gears of the clock have turned the gear 3 to the position indicated by the hand 9 on the outer end of the shaft 4 when the alarm is to be sounded.

Fixed on a suitable support in the casing 1, and having an opening therethrougli for the free reception of the shaft 4: there is the usual flat or arched spring 10 which influences the gear 3 in its longitudinal movement and to bring the notched portion 7 thereof to engage with the pin 8 on the said shaft 4:. This is also of the usual construction.

The outer and free end of the spring 10 has secured thereon in any desired or suit able manner an inwardly extending flexible finger 11. the same being preferably in the nature of a spring rod. This rod has its outer end guided through slots 12 that enter from the ends of the bifurcated portion 13 of a block 1A of insulating material. The block is secured to another block 15 which is also of insulating material. Thls block 15 has arranged thereon a binding post 16 for one of the wires of the lamp circuit, the saidbinding post 16' being disposed to one side of the block 14, while also fixed on the block 15, to the opposite side of the block 14, there is the second contact. 17 for the lamp circuit. I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the lamps nor the cir-- cuit therefor as the same areof the ordinary type employed uponautomobiles or like vehicles having an electric system.

By reference to Figure 8 it will be seen that the contacts 16 and 17 are arranged below the shoulder provided in the block 14 by the bifurcated portion l3 and also by reference to this figure and likewiseto' Figure 6 of the drawings it will be seen that there is fixed on the binding post 16 the coiled end of a spring switch member 18 which is guided through the bifurcated portion 13 of the block 14:.

111 the showing of the drawings, the winding shaft of' the clock has fixed on its end gear which is inmesh with the gear 22-whose shaft 23 is extended through the face 2 of the casing and has fixed thereon an operat-- ing handle 24. The shaft 23 is guided through the hollow shaft 25 of the hand set mechanism. This shaft 25 isj'ournaled through a suitable bearing opening in the face plate 2 and: through a bearing 26- which is fixed to and depends from the casing l. The outer end of the shaft 25 has fixed thereon an operating handle 27. The periphery I of both the handles 24 and 27' are knurled and the inner end of the hollow' shaft has;

fixed thereon a gear which is in mesh with a similar gear of a shaft 28 that is journal'ed thIOHgh suitable bearings 29' in the rearof journa-led in suitable spaced bearings on the rear faceof the clock, the said shaft 31 havmg fixed on its second or outer end another gear'whrch 1s m mesh with asnni l'ar gear on the end of a shaft 32. This shaft is extended longitudinally through suitable bearings and passes through the face 2 of the clock and. has on its outer end a knurled operating handle By this construction it will be seen that the clock may be wound, the hands may be set and the indicator hand for the wheel 3 may be set from the outer face of the clock. a

The operation of the improvement may be briefly described as follows: The hand 9 is SGtQtO' arrange-the lug; 8 in contactwith the,

hub Gofthe gear 3, the said hand 9 being disposed opposite one of the fingers on the dial 34:.therefo1u Thus the train of gears of the clock will turn and slowly revolve the wheel 3: until the not-ch of the same 1s brought in a line with the lug 8 on the shaft and thereafter the spring 10 will influence the gear to move the same longitudinally on the shaft 4 and to cause the lug to be received in the-notch 7 in the hub of the said gear. Obviously such movement of the spring will impart a longitudinal movement to the finger 1 1', partly drawing the same through the slot 12 which provides the guide for the said finger. It should have been stated that the spring switch 18 is influenced'to bring th'e-samebeneath the finger 11- and, therefore, out of engagement with the contact 17. It will be obvious that" when the switch is brought against the contact 17 the circuit will be completed and the lamps will be illuminated It will be likewise apparent that means must be provided for swinging the circuit maker comprising the switch 18 away from the contact 17 when the lamps are to be shut off. Toaccomplislrthisl journal in a suitable bearing 35- in the casing 1 the straight portion 36 of a shaft which has its ends bent in opposite directions. O'neend of this shaft is indicated for distinctionby the numeral 37' and passes through-an elongated slot 38 inthe face plate 2, the second end, indicated fordistinction by the numeral 38, being provided with a socket-I39 in which there is inserted and secured arod or finger 40 of insulating material. The finger O is disposed directly over the switch or circuit maker 18 as shown by Figs. 4, 6 and 8 of the drawings. Obviously by swinging; the handle end 37 of'the shaft 36- the finger will be brought againstthe spring switch or circuit maker 18 to move the same away from the contact 17, causing the said switch to glideover' and be arranged beneath the spring finger 11.

The simplicty of my improvemntandj the advantages thereof will, it is thought, he understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art so that further detailed description will not be required- It should be stated, however, that the lamp" circuit may be controlled by the usual switch and like wise that I do not-wish to be limited to the precise details of construction as herein set forth as I" hold myself'entitled tomake such 2 changes therefrom as fairly fall' within the scope of what I claim.

Having described the invention,, II claim."

switch designed to be normally disposed beneath the linger and held away from the contact when the wheel is in normal position and to be released from engagement with the finger when the wheel is moved longitudinally and an operating lever to contact with the switch to flex the same beneath the finger when the wheel is returned to its nor- 20 mal position.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

ALBERT PARKER. 

